NC 18 is a predominantly two-lane rural highway that travels in western North Carolina. Starting as a continuation of SC 18, at the South Carolina state line near Earl, NC 18 travels north into Shelby, where it overlaps with NC 150 and crosses US 74/NC 226. North of Shelby, it goes through the towns of Fallston and Belwood, before entering Lincoln County. At Toluca, it connects with NC 27; at Laurel Hill, it overlaps briefly with NC 10, before entering Catawba County. With no major interchanges in Catawba County, it enters Burke County and goes northwesterly towards Morganton. Entering Morganton from the southeast, it crosses under I-40 and follows Sterling Street into the downtown area. After passing US 70, the highway splits along one-way streets, via Green Street and Sterling Street. At Meeting Street, NC 181 begins and also joins US 64 Business. At Avery Street, NC 181 continues along Green Street towards Linville. Near the Catawba River, NC 18 connects with mainline US 64 at Sanford Drive and continue as a shared concurrency into Caldwell County. In Caldwell County, US 64/NC 18 go through the town of Gamewell before entering Lenoir, from the southwest. In Lenoir, US 64/NC 18 will cross US 321, where traffic could possibly get backed up. US 64/NC 18 will then overlap with NC 90 before US 64/NC 90 splits off and continues towards Taylorsville; while NC 18 goes northeasterly, adjacent to the Brushy Mountains, through the Cedar Rock and Kings Creek before entering Wilkes County. After passing through Thankful and Boomer, it joins NC 16 at Moravian Falls, then goes north towards Wilkesboro. After crossing over US 421, it ends its concurrency with NC 16, but soon NC 268 along Main Street. Crossing the Yadkin River, NC 18/NC 268 enters North Wilkesboro and travels through its downtown area via Wilkesboro Avenue, CBD Loop, D Street, Sixth Street and finally B Street. With a short concurrency with US 421 Bus., it continues north along Second Street. NC 268 splits at Elkin Highway towards Elkin. After passing through Mulberry, Halls Mill and McGrady, NC 18 takes its ascent along a curvy stretch of highway into Alleghany County. Entering the county at Mulberry Gap , NC 18 hugs along the Ashe-Alleghany county line before crossing under the Blue Ridge Parkway. At Laurel Springs, NC 18 connects with NC 88, where it goes westerly towards Jefferson. Heading northeasterly, through Whitehead, it crosses US 21 in Sparta. Crossing the Little River, at Blevins Crossroads, NC 18 goes easterly, near the Virginia state line. North of Cumberland Knob, NC 18 crosses under the Blue Ridge Parkway again and enters Surry County. After from the county line, it NC 18 ends at NC 89, near the community of Lowgap and from the Virginia state line. Continuing on NC 89 will take travelers south to Mount Airy or north to Galax, Virginia.
History
NC 18 was established in 1921 as an original state highway, traveling from NC 20, in Shelby, to NC 67, in Moravian Falls; connecting the cities of Morganton and Lenoir. In 1925, NC 18 was extended south to its current southern terminus at the South Carolina state line, near Earl. South Carolina reciprocate in 1930 with the establishment of SC 111 from the state line to Gaffney, which was later renumbered SC 18 in 1937. In 1929, NC 18 was extended north, replacing NC 67, through Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro, to US 21/NC 26 in Sparta. Also in 1929, NC 18 was rerouted south of Morganton going through the Sunnyside community and leaving behind Enola and Enola Road. In 1930, NC 18 was extended northeast along new primary routing to its current northern terminus at NC 89, near Lowgap. In 1948 or 1949, NC 18 was rerouted onto new bypass south of downtown Lenoir; its old alignment along Harper Avenue became NC 18A. In 1952, NC 18 was placed on new routing between Laurel Hill and Morganton with a routing through Catawba County; the old routing through Camp Creek and Sunnyside was downgraded to secondary road "Old North Carolina Highway 18". In 1962, NC 18 was rerouted in downtown North Wilkesboro, from B Street to a split with northbound along 10th Street and southbound along D Street and Forester Avenue. In 1966, NC 18 was rerouted in downtown Shelby, from South Washington and East Graham Streets to South Lafayette Street. In 1969, NC 18 was rerouted at Moravian Falls onto NC 16, leaving Moravian Falls Road. In 1977, NC 18 was rerouted in downtown Morganton from Avery Avenue to Bouchelle Street. In 1978, NC 18 was rerouted again in downtown North Wilkesboro, from Forester Avenue to CBD loop. In 1992, NC 18 was rerouted back to its former alignment in downtown Morganton, via Avery Avenue.
Major intersections
Special routes
Shelby truck route
North Carolina Highway 18 Truck provides an alternative route for truck drivers that are passing through Shelby. Its routing, entirely on Dekalb Street, is both four-lane and provides a bypass from the downtown/county courthouse area. Signage along the route only appears at key intersections.
Morganton truck route
North Carolina Highway 18 Truck is a bypass west and north around downtown Morganton. It starts by going west along Fleming Drive and then north along Sanford Drive, reconnecting with mainline NC 18 at Lenoir Road. Signage along the route only appears at key intersections.
Lenoir alternate route
North Carolina Highway 18 Alternate was established around 1948-1949 as a renumbering of mainline NC 18, which was placed on a new bypass alignment south of downtown Lenoir. The route traversed along Harper Avenue entirely. In 1960, it was redesignated as NC 18 Bus.
Lenoir business loop
North Carolina Highway 18 Business was established 1960 as a rebannering of mainline NC 18A, which traversed along Harper Avenue in downtown Lenoir. In 1968, westbound was rerouted along Mulberry and West Avenue; Sometime between 1969-1982, westbound was adjusted along Ridge Street onto West Avenue, eliminating Mulberry Avenue from the route. In 2006, a major realignment in downtown Lenoir took place, eliminating US 321A; at that time signage for NC 18 Bus was removed, but the route was not decommissioned. In December, 2012, NCDOT approved a change package that decommissioned the business loop and transferred control of the roads to the city of Lenoir.
